Menua

Pierné: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
BBC Philharmonic
Juanjo Mena

This is the eagerly awaited second volume of orchestral works by Pierné, played by the BBC Philharmonic under Juanjo Mena and featuring Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. The first volume, released five years ago, proved ‘a delectable aperitif’ (American Record Review).

More successful than his older rival Debussy in the early twentieth century, the composer Pierné deserves to be better known nowadays. This recording features some of his most virtuosic and yet mysterious pieces, which place him at the frontier between romantic (Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Franck) and impressionist (Ravel, Debussy) influences.

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, who is often praised for his expressive power and fine technique, here takes on the challenge of bringing such mercurial inventions as the Fantaisie-Ballet or Poème Symphonique to much-deserved recognition.

Les Cathédrales and Paysages franciscains are later works (1915 and 1919, respectively), and while the former evokes scenes of devastation during World War IMaría Espada (soprano), Martin Roscoe (piano), BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena, the latter offers more airy and impressionist music, with obvious signs of ‘modern’ influences.